NHS to launch new website for patients in 2017
The National Health Service’s digital team is set to redesign the NHS.uk website with the aim of making it a one-stop-shop for patients.
The NHS website is set to be completely redesigned by the end of next year, into a centralised hub where patients will be able to order prescriptions, book an appointment and find a GP.
The overhaul is part of a wider Department of Health initiative to “achieve digital excellence” in the NHS.
The new NHS.uk website will allow patients to register with a GP, access healthcare records such as test results, and receive medical advice.
It will also allow them to view and book appointments, and order and track prescriptions, says the Department of Health.
As part of the initiative, data from NHS-approved health apps will also now be added into patients’ records.
This data will be used to help “guide patient choice”, says the Department of Health, and the website will include a library of health apps and wearable devices, which have been given the NHS seal of approval.
There will also be a redesign of the existing MyNHS website, which currently provides information to patients on health services in their local area.
It will be programmed to give “better data” on local services performing well across certain healthcare areas, starting with dementia, diabetes and learning disabilities. Data for services’ performance based on maternity, cancer and mental health will follow.
It will also include infographic tools such as maps and graphs, which will show how performance across local services has changed over time.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt made the announcement this week, and the digital transformation will be headed up by the NHS’ in-house team NHS Digital.
Expected by the end of 2017
Andy Williams, chief executive at NHS Digital, says: “Our purpose is to harness information and technology to deliver better health and care.
I am excited by the agenda outlined…and believe we have only just begun to achieve the true transformational change and deliver the real benefits that digital technologies can bring to doctors, nurses, social workers, patients and the public.”
The new NHS.uk website is expected to roll out by the end of 2017, according to the Department of Health.
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Not before time but this should have been sorted a long time ago. Why are they so far behind everybody else? Was anyone aware that the NHS symptoms website has been suspended. Would be interested to know how this new site is going to fare in light of the news about the overall budget issues.
Just re read the article.
Is the site to be launched by the end of 2017 or by 2018… which is it?
Hi Neil,
Thanks for the comment – it will allegedly be rolled out at the end of 2017, according to the Department for Health. We’ve clarified this now in the article.
Thanks,
Design Week team
Thanks for the clarification.
Given the importance of the NHS in our lives I am really surprised not to see more comments and debate about this. Maybe because we have nothing to comment on other than what role the website will play.
At the moment I can make an appointment with my GP or phone my chemist but I recently had a routine blood test and had to phone a local hospital to make the appointment at my local GP surgery which seemed illogical. Will the new website reflect the system as it stands or will it make it easier to arrange visits. Many people are concerned about their medical records being publicly available for example or even accessible online.
There have been a string of major IT projects costing a fortune and going nowhere with successive governments writing off the costs. However,the roll out of the .GOV and HMRC websites have been handled really well and are definitely getting there. They have somehow managed to keep the old and new sites alongside each other as the functionality is updated and allowed users to access the Beta sites while they are updated.
I do want the NHS website to succeed as there is a lot riding on this.